Louisiana Department of Economic Development
http://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/

For Release On:

June 21, 2013

Houma: Governor Bobby Jindal and Hunting Energy Services Chief Operating Officer Jim Johnson announced the company's completion of a $19.6 million capital investment in its new Houma facility. The project included construction of more than 97,000 square feet in manufacturing and distribution space. The expansion retained 48 Hunting Energy Services jobs, with an average salary of $52,000, plus benefits, and created 60 construction jobs. Since mid-2012, the company has added 33 employees, for a total of 81 jobs at the new site.

Hunting Energy Services Inc. is a Houston-based business unit of London-headquartered Hunting PLC. The energy services business provides well construction, well completion and well intervention services, including wireline and coiled tubing accessories manufactured by the Houma site. Hunting Energy Services completed a total site investment of $25.8 million for the project.

Gov. Jindal said, “We’re proud that Hunting Energy Services chose Louisiana for this new oilfield supply manufacturing facility. Nowhere in the world will you find a more dedicated and skilled energy workforce than right here in our state – that’s why Louisiana continues to be the top investment choice for companies in the oil and gas business. Indeed, Hunting Energy could have invested anywhere in the world, but chose Louisiana because of our strong business climate, unrivaled workforce and world-class energy infrastructure. We’re confident Hunting Energy Services will continue our economy’s momentum by providing great jobs for Louisianians so they can pursue their dreams right here at home.”

In Houma, the company combined operations from two former buildings into a state-of-the-art complex. Located on 57 acres near U.S. 90, the new Hunting Energy Services complex is nearly six times the size of its former manufacturing buildings. The Terrebonne Parish site maintains the company’s presence near customers and suppliers as Hunting expands its offerings of oilfield equipment and supplies.

“Hunting Energy Services has a long history of servicing the oil and gas industry in Louisiana,” said Johnson, the company’s COO. “We appreciate the commitment of Governor Jindal and the state’s leadership to allow Hunting’s continued support of the region. We are making a long-term investment to further growth of our manufacturing operations in Houma. We are dedicated to our employees, customers, the Houma-Terrebonne region and the State of Louisiana in providing a foundation for a safe and environmentally sound base of operations.”

LED’s Business Expansion and Retention Group, or BERG, began working with Hunting Energy Services and the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority on the potential expansion opportunity in July 2011. To secure the project, the state offered the company a $325,000 Modernization Tax Credit, which will be claimed over five years. Hunting Energy Services also is expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program.

“We thank Hunting Energy Services for their investment and confidence in Terrebonne Parish,” said Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet. “This announcement marks more high-quality and high-paying jobs coming to our parish and state. Terrebonne Parish is proud to be home to many of the service companies and workers that are vital to the exploration and drilling taking place in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.”

“The commitment of Hunting Energy Services’ expansion in our community will only strengthen our economic development efforts,” said CEO Steve Vassallo of the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority. “We applaud the company for its proactiveness and wish Hunting continued success. The more profitable that the company is, the happier we are at the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority.”

“Attracting a high-quality energy manufacturer like Huntington to our region is a testament to not just what we do in the energy industry, but also to what we know about it,” said South Louisiana Economic Council CEO Vic Lafont. “For our workforce, this doesn’t just translate into jobs – but quality jobs.”